I am 47 and the name Karen was pretty much gone even by my time. I knew a couple of Karens along the way, but generally it is more of a Boomer name-kind of about as popular as Diane. Then, for my kids, Granny chic was in--not Boomer, but like older than that. It's been out of circulation for so long and isn't even that great. Why try to bring it back?

Anonymous wrote:NO Karens, Chads or Brads.

What does "Brad" now mean?? I'm familiar with the others.

My given name is Karen. I started to go by "Kare" after the negative associations started. It was kind of an abrupt transition and initially I felt sad, like I had no other choice, but over time I've been able to stop putting so much stock in what others think. Life is much better ever since I stopped Karen.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP these posters are so myopic.

It’s a lovely name. In 3 years the current negative associations will be long forgotten.

No it won't. People like dumping on outspoken women too much.

Right but in ten years the name for women like this will no longer be Karen. Outspoken women will be Jennifers or Christines.

Let's hope not. One ruined name is enough.

Who's going to be naming their baby Donald in the next five to ten years?

In the next five, MAGAS. Nobody calls him Don or Donny so maybe the shortened version can be saved.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP these posters are so myopic.

It’s a lovely name. In 3 years the current negative associations will be long forgotten.

No it won't. People like dumping on outspoken women too much.

Right but in ten years the name for women like this will no longer be Karen. Outspoken women will be Jennifers or Christines.

Let's hope not. One ruined name is enough.

Who's going to be naming their baby Donald in the next five to ten years?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP these posters are so myopic.

It’s a lovely name. In 3 years the current negative associations will be long forgotten.

No it won't. People like dumping on outspoken women too much.

Right but in ten years the name for women like this will no longer be Karen. Outspoken women will be Jennifers or Christines.

Let's hope not. One ruined name is enough.

I probably wouldn’t use it or use it as a middle name. I was surprised there are two girls in my kids schools named Karen and Carin between 8-11 years old as it seems like an older name to me but they were named that before the negative connotation.

Anonymous wrote:What about Carrie, OP? I wouldn’t do Karen. Even if the trend does, people will remember. It’s not as bad as Adolf, Isis, or Osama, but it’s not good.

Personally, I loved the nickname D!*k for Richard. Lots of positive associations with special people in my life. I named my miscarried baby Richard, but I’d never do that to a living child.

Every Richard I know goes by Rick.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP these posters are so myopic.

It’s a lovely name. In 3 years the current negative associations will be long forgotten.

No it won't. People like dumping on outspoken women too much.

Right but in ten years the name for women like this will no longer be Karen. Outspoken women will be Jennifers or Christines.

What about Carrie, OP? I wouldn’t do Karen. Even if the trend does, people will remember. It’s not as bad as Adolf, Isis, or Osama, but it’s not good.

Personally, I loved the nickname D!*k for Richard. Lots of positive associations with special people in my life. I named my miscarried baby Richard, but I’d never do that to a living child.

I have so much to say as a hobbyist onamastician and former registrar in a larger school system but the name Karen is now ruined. As PP said, consider Corinne (core-RIN) or Carmen or Karenina or even Karenna.

I can attest to registering girls named Swastika and several Ashita(s), a Nemesis and a Sin. Many boys named Ransom. Oh, and one boy with the middle name of Danger.

Out of respect for all those already named Karen, Karin, Carin, Caryn, let’s drop there ent use of Karen as a diminishing shorthand.

Anonymous wrote:It seems very “middle aged” or “old” to the current crop having kids. Like my kids told me names like “Kaitlyn” and “Lauren” (which seemed to be 1/3 of my class growing up) are mom names. “Brad” is a dad name. They will soon be grandma and grandpa names and very passe. Then the trend will swing back.

I'm 48 and think of Brad as an old man name - like men over 75. But now thinking about it, I work with a Bradley and Bradford both in their early 50's, and one Bradley who is maybe around 30.

Everyone now who I know is naming their kids Hudson, Brooklyn, Kennedy, Austin, Cameron, etc. Which I think of as names that were popular 25 years ago (along with Madison and McKenzie). The Emily, Caroline, Henry, Jack season was about 15 years ago.

It seems very “middle aged” or “old” to the current crop having kids. Like my kids told me names like “Kaitlyn” and “Lauren” (which seemed to be 1/3 of my class growing up) are mom names. “Brad” is a dad name. They will soon be grandma and grandpa names and very passe. Then the trend will swing back.

Anonymous wrote:OP these posters are so myopic.

It’s a lovely name. In 3 years the current negative associations will be long forgotten.

No it won't. People like dumping on outspoken women too much.